Powder coating can be an ideal way to customize the appearance of wheels or other automotive components, protecting against rust while looking fantastic.
Powder coats do not utilize volatile organic compounds such as methylene chloride and benzene, making it safer for painters to work with. Furthermore, powder coating wastes 5% or less than liquid paint when compared to liquid paint.
Why not powder coat?
Powder coating involves applying dry colour powder directly to metal, then baking it on with heat. While this makes achieving a glossy finish more challenging than usual, its robust nature means it is both tough and long-lasting.
Traditional paint contains solvents which can be detrimental to both fabricator health and the environment. Since powder coating doesn’t involve solvents, it is much healthier for both lungs and planet alike.
Powder coating can produce stunning results when done right. It is a fantastic option for car enthusiasts or those wanting their ride to look shiny and new; however, home use of this process should not be attempted without investing in quality powder gun and oven equipment as well as possessing very precise skills and dedication to achieve the best results.
It’s Not Cost-Effective
Powder coating has long been an automotive standard, particularly when applied to components exposed to harsh conditions like wheel rims and suspension pieces.
Furthermore, this finish serves as an effective way of protecting against corrosion.
But powder coating may not always be the ideal choice. One drawback of powder coating is that it requires expensive equipment in order to apply and cure it; specifically a spray gun and an oven are required for application and curing of the coat – something not ideal for DIY projects or garage applications.
Problems also include difficulty matching powder coat colors due to its electrostatic charge-based attachment process rather than chemical bonds between elements of metal parts and liquid paints, making exact matches less achievable; any gouges or scratches in powder coat could allow moisture (in this instance corrosive road salt) through and lead to corrosion of metal structures underneath it.
It’s Not Durable
Powder coating has become an increasingly popular way for car enthusiasts to customize the color of their wheels, suspension and other parts. Powder coat provides an inexpensive solution that gives their wheels a new look while being much more durable than paint finishes. Many don’t realize that powder coat finishes offer better longevity for use on car components than paint coating does.
Powder coat can better withstand heat and other environmental factors than painted metal finishes; its lifespan is often 10 times longer, meaning less likely chipping or cracking over time.
Powder coat offers many advantages over its liquid alternatives, including resistance to brake fluid, acid, and salt. But while its durability makes it desirable, powder coating still has some drawbacks.
Powder coat finishes can be more challenging to repair or touch up than liquid paints, requiring you to strip down and recoat parts more than once before they can be touched up if a chip or scratch occurs. Instead of simply repainting with conventional liquid paints, these processes involve taking apart parts, stripping them down, stripping back layers off, stripping again and applying more layers – an arduous and costly process!
It’s Not Versatile
Powder coating can be a complex and time-consuming process, making the DIY option both challenging and costly. Equipment costs more than spray guns or rattle cans; furthermore, you will require garage space dedicated to curing.
Powder coating a piece of metal requires using a special spray gun that uses electrostatic charges to charge powder particles before fusing them to grounded metal surfaces, before baking in an oven at approximately 400 degrees Fahrenheit until curing occurs.
Powder coating wheels is an easy and cost-effective way to add sleek professional style, and there are endless color combinations available – perfect for adding the final touch in a car’s design! However, full car powder coating shouldn’t be done regularly as scratches in powder cannot easily be repaired; otherwise you would have to strip down back down to bare metal before painting over it again if damage occurs requiring further touch ups with new paint layers. Professional painters should handle it.